The family of a Leicestershire builder, who died of a heart attack while on holiday after his GP failed to spot a heart problem, has been compensated.

Ray Clarke, 57, went to the doctor three times complaining of chest pains.

His GP, Dr Philip Hussey of Syston health centre, has admitted he should have referred Mr Clarke to hospital.

The family, who were devastated by his death near Malaga, Spain in September 2004, has requested the amount of the settlement remain confidential.

'Deepest sympathy'

Mr Clarke was told by his GP to go on holiday but the day after he arrived he collapsed in his hotel room in front of his wife and died of heart failure.

He had visited his GP three times over a period of six weeks complaining of chest pains and was given medication for indigestion.

A letter from Dr Hussey's solicitor said if the patient had been referred to a clinic or hospital during the second or third visit and appropriately treated then "the fatal event would, on balance of probability, have been avoided".

Dr Hussey expressed "his deepest sympathy" to the family.

The family solicitor Mehmooda Duke said: "It is a very sad and tragic case where Mrs Clarke had gone on holiday with her husband and on the first day her husband had a heart attack and died in front of her.

"There were two opportunities to take action and they were sadly missed."

His daughter Michelle Keay, 40, said: "It's appalling - he rarely visited a doctor and for him to go three times in a row was a really big deal.

"Someone should have taken a second look at this and asked why he had gone to the doctor so many times."